Stamping and alcohol based markers seem to be all the rage right now in the paper crafting world. If you haven’t had the opportunity to try them out then today’s steal, American Crafts Chromatics Markers, are the perfect opportunity to get your feet wet! Not only is this a fun new steal, but we are treated to the talents of Design Team member Julie Koets. It just doesn’t get better than this!

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I had so much fun working with the Chromatix markers from American Crafts! Having never used alcohol markers before, I was thrilled with the chance to try them out for my first design team feature. I loved that the markers are grouped in complimentary shades to take all of the guess work out of it. With colors that are so intense and vibrant, these markers make coloring fun again! Armed with a set of “grass” and “sapphire” colored markers and the clear blending pen, I set out to experiment and create. My first project was this fun card featuring some cute little inked critters.

I also used the markers to color directly on a background stamp. Because the alcohol inks are quick drying, I worked quickly and spritzed my colored woodgrain stamp with a light mist of water before stamping directly to my paper. The results give a great watercolor affect and a muted image.

Just in case you’re thinking these markers are only for stamping, check out this layout where I utilized the markers to color my title letters. I started with plain white die cut letters and used the varying shades of blue markers to make customized letters in varying shades of blue. I didn’t pay much attention to getting perfect shading, but just colored and blended randomly, resulting in a great “watery” look.

Thanks so much for checking out my projects and be sure to pick up several sets of markers for yourself. They are great for doodling, coloring, and stamping!

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Thanks so much Julie! Your projects were as fantastic as always. I especially love the way you used the blue markers to make the “wet” letters. Perfect for the summer scrapbooking I haven’t quite finished up.

This week we are treated to yet another awesome tutorial by Erica Bass. For those of you that love looking at stamping, want to know more about stamping, or are finally ready to take the full on plunge with stamping, Erica’s tutorial will definitely get you pointed in the right direction with coloring your stamped images with marker. Erica, take it away!

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This is for all you stampers out there that love to color in images or for the newbies that want to learn how to do that. I hope this tutorial helps you get the look that you’ve always wished you could create!

Supplies:

water-based markers in various shades

blender pen

watercolor paper

Step 1: Print or stamp out lined image on watercolor paper. I find that you can get away with this technique with heavy cardstock but
the watercolor paper helps blend the colors better and the paper doesn’t peel when you color over the same spot over and over.

Step 2: I chose three shades of pink and red for the coat. Start with your lightest shade and color the whole area that is that color.

Step 3: Determine the angle the light is coming from and that is where you will leave a little of the lightest shade showing. Color over about 2/3 of the area with the next darkest color.

Step 4: Add touches of your darkest shade in the shadow areas of your picture. Sometimes stamps will give you hints as to the shadows by having extra lines.

Step 5: After you color in the different shades go over that whole area with the lightest color to blend it all together.

Step 6: In this image I had some trim of the girl’s coat that I wanted to be white. Even white has shadows so picked up some light blue with my blender pen and colored in just the spots I
wanted the shadows to be.

Step 7: To finish off your image go around the outside of the image with a pale color I picked up light blue with a blender pen and traced the image and then added a couple of shadows.

Finished card

ATC

another card using this technique

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As always, what a spectacular treat to be given a tutorial by the stampy diva, Erica Bass! Thank you Erica for sharing your talents with the ScrapbookSteals community.

If you have an idea that you would like to see featured as a How To’sday tutorial, we’d be happy to feature you. Simply send along text instructions and photos to Kristy@stealnetwork.com and I will add you to the line up.

Have a great day and I’ll see you tomorrow for a little Mid Week Mojo!